Uli Jon Roth

The Vic

Victoria Road,

Old Town,

Swindon.

Monday, November 12

IT is not often Swindon sees a guitarist who is a pioneer of rock and a virtuoso of classical music let rip in an intimate setting like the Vic.

Uli Jon Roth is the former lead guitarist with The Scorpions and Electric Sun, who came to fame in the 1970s, but on Monday night he simply exploded onto the stage with all the dynamic energy of a 20-year-old.

He actually had a bad cold but did not allow that to impede the show or his husky rock voice. He had his small but enthusiastic audience cheering as well as applauding after every song.

He kicked off with the old rock favourite All Along The Watchtower, which I have seen performed in every which way. At least, so I thought. Uli’s version was neither Dylan nor Hendrix, it was pure Uli with soul.

Rock classic after rock classic from his illustrious back catalogue crashed through the Vic, including tracks from The Scorpions’ Take By Force album and a thunder road version of Hell Cat, with his ardent fans baying for more.

His band were multi-national, with superb musicians on keyboards, rhythm guitar, bass and drums all following the master on stage in a tight knit unit.

In between the heavy duty rock blast, Uli showed us his softer side, with a brief flirtation with Flamenco, blues and jazz. There is no sound that he can’t create from his Sky guitar, which he developed himself.

My heart was given to Gary Moore and Jimmy Page as guitar gods so I did not know as many of Uli’s tracks as the majority of the crowd, but I am now a true convert. - Flicky Harrison